Gentlemen Don't

Chapter Ten - Go

Chapter Ten

Go

Today was game board night. It was like usual hang outs. Marc, Leo, Trey, Ricky, Jill, Jacky, Sandra and unfortunately Ashley. "Hey lets play truth or dare!" Ricky said. "Oh no, remember what happened last  time?" Leo warned. "C'mon, it'll be fun. Like old times. We haven't caught up on each other's lives in a while. Why don't we update." Ricky crunched on a chip. "Yeah, let's do it." Jill grabbed an empty beer bottle and spinned it, and it landed on Jackie. "Truth or dare?" Ricky asked. "Truth." She said. "Is there anyone in this room that you've liked before?" Ricky asked. "Yeah." She said.

"Who!?" Ricky asked.

"Hey, you already asked a question." Jacky spinned the bottle and it landed on Jill.

"Truth or dare?" Jacky asked.

"Truth."

"How's Kenny?" Jacky smirked. Everyone oo'd

"Good. K next." Jill spinned next and it landed on Marc.

"Truth or dare?" Jill asked.

"Uh, dare."

"Alright first one tonight!" Trey yelled.

"I dare you to kiss Ricky on the cheek." Jill said.

Marc had no hesitation and kissed Ricky on the cheek. Everyone laughed.

"I'm telling Cathy." Said Trey. Then Marc spinned the bottle and it landed on Ashley. Everyone looked at her in shock. Then Marc looked at her uncomfortably.

"Truth or dare?" He asked.

"Truth."

"Crap this is gonna get emotional." Leo whispered to Jill.

"Is it true that, you're still afraid of the mascots whenever you go to Disney land?" Marc chuckled, and everyone started laughing.

"Oh my God you're so cute!" Sandy hit her arm.

"Hey! You said you wouldn't tell anyone!" She got up and tackled him.

"So it's true?!" He struggled trying to get up. "Guys help me!"

She started tickling him, and everyone started laughing and joining in.

Everyone started going home, because of course it was a school night. Everyone left except for Ashley. She wanted to help clean up. "I had fun today." She stood in front of his front door. "I had fun too, it's been a while since we've had a chill day. Together." He said. It got pretty awkward. "Well I guess i'll see you tomorrow." She said. "Okay. Bye." Marc said. He hugged her. It's been a while since they've hugged each other, and Marc was sure that it wasn't a friendly hug. So he let go first. "Bye." He waved. "Bye." She walked away into Ricky's car.

He went in for a quick shower he thought about Dannie. Tomorrow was the day he had to choose, to go to the pho place. Or to just stay home and appologise over the phone like a litte pussy he was. He felt good today. After hanging out with Ashley and everyone again. After their break up a year ago. They've never had a day where they all just hung out. He was afraid that if he picked Dannie. That he won't just upset Ashley, but upset his friends as well.

He was laying in bed now and he read back at all the text conversations he had with Dannie. Man he missed her. Then he looked through all the argument texts he used to have with Ashley. Was it always going to be like this? He thought. He decided to text her.

Marc: I just want to let you know that I can't stop thinking about you. Good night Dannie.

Then there was no reply. Was she talking to someone else? Did she forget about me? He sunk his face into a pillow then groaned. His phone buzzed.

Dannie: I miss you. Sweet dreams Marc.

He decided not to reply anymore, and fell asleep looking at the text message.

The final bell rang, today was the day where he had to choose. Damn who should I chose. I don't know, i'm so confused. "Hey! You remember what I told you right?" Jill asked. "Yes, Jill. That's all i've been thinking of the past three days." He said. "So. Who is it?" She asked. "Look I don't know. Okay?" He turned around and walked away. "How could you not know?!" She followed him out the double doors. "I need a couple hours to think." He said. "Ugh, Marc. Whatever, your love life." Jill rolled her eyes and ran to Kenny.

Marc was at the library finishing a project at the library. It was about 6pm. God give me more time. He prayed. His phone buzzed. "Hey dude, okay Ashley's in the hospital." Ricky called.

"Whoa, what!? Why?" He stood up.

"Should I come get you? Or."

"I have to be at-" This was a sign, what if it was a sign to choose Ashley?

"What? Hello? Marc?"

"Huh, yeah come get me."

"Alright i'll be there in an hour."

He hung up. What happened to Ashley. Maybe it was because she had health problems. Then he thought Dannie. Oh no. He couldn't think straight.

It was 7:45pm "Dude you okay? You don't look so good." Ricky said.

"Dude I was supposed to see Dannie at the Pho place at 8 if I wanted to be with her." He said.

"What?! What the hell are you doing then!?"

"I have to be there, for Ashley."

"Then that shows that you just lost Dannie."

"What happened to Ashley?"

"She collapsed in the middle of tennis practice, and it was her health stuff she told us about."

"I hope she's okay." Marc said.

"So you're just going to leave Dannie?"

"Ashley needs us, as her friends right now."

They were all at the hospital. "Hey you okay?" Marc asked.

"Yeah i'm fine." Ashley smiled.

"So.. you stood my cousin up?" Jill whispered.

"She needed me, Jill." Marc whispered back.

Marc waited in the waiting room. He looked at the time and it was too late. It was 8:30pm. Maybe this is for the best. Then it hit him. Maybe he wanted to be with Dannie, maybe it wasn't too late. He ran back in Ashley's room and she was alone.

"Hey." She smiled.

"Hey, can I talk to you?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Look, I love you. Okay. You were my first love, and you'll always be. But you moved on, and I moved on too. Then you suddenly came back and it was a shock."

"Look, i'm not forcing anything out of you okay, I know. We were each other's first love's. But I can't beg you to take me back. If you want to take her. Just remember. It's never too late." She took his hand. "You'll always be my first love, and my best friend." She started to tear up. Marc hugged her. "Thanks, Ash. Now I know why I held on for so long." He smiled.

"Go." she pointed out the door.

"Okay." He kissed her on the forehead.

As he was driving recklessly to the pho place he wished that she hasn't left yet. He looked at the time. It was 8:50pm. He passed the speed limit. Thank God there was no traffic, but all he could think of was if she was still there.

He finally got there. Thanks to Ricky he said he would pick his car up back at Marc's house. He rushed out the car then locked the car doors and ran in the noodle shop trying to catch his breath. "Welcome would you like to have a seat?" The waiter asked. "Uh was there a girl, about my age. Here? If so, how long ago?" He held his chest. "Oh she left almost thirty minutes ago." The waiter said. "Oh okay thank you." Marc slowly walked out the noodle shop.

"Marc?" He looked up, and there she was. Wearing the same thing she wore the first time they met. He ran up to her and picked her up. She hugged him tight. "I thought you left." He teared up. She hugged him even tighter. "I'm not a giver upper." Her voice sounded shaky. He hugged her even tighter.